Sealing device for water-meters



(No Model.)

(as. POLLANSBEE. SEALING DEVICE FOR 'WATER METERS.

No. 404,395. Patented June 4. I889;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE S. FOLLANSBEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEALING DEVICE FOR WATER-METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,395, dated June 4,1889.

Application filed August 6, 1887. Serial No- 246,284- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. FOLLAr/TS- BEE, of Boston, county ofSuffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inSealing Devices for \VatenMeters, of which the following description,inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings rep resenting like parts.

This invention relates to a sealing device for pipe-couplings, and isespecially adapted for use 011 water and other meters, it having for itsobject to provide an efficient and cheap sealing device.

In accordance with my invention the nipple of the meter to which thecoupling is attached is provided with a collar, with which eo-operatesthe couplingnut to form a locking-groove, in which is extended a flangeon two parts or halves of a seal or looking device constructed as willbe described, so that. the coupling-nut is covered and beyond reachuntil the seal or locking device is removed.

Each half or part of the seal or looking device, as shown, has asemicircular flange, which eo-operates when the said halves are puttogether to form a cup or socket, into which wax or other similarsealing substance is placed. The parts orhalves referredto are securedtogether at top and bottom preferably by independent pieces of wireinserted through holes in the flanges referred to, each wire being bentin the middle in the cup or socket formed by the flanges, and the endsof the said wire being turned in opposite directions by a key, as willbe hereinafter described.

The particular features in which my invention consists will be pointedout in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 shows in section and elevation a coupling provided with myimproved seal or locking device, the latter being in section; Fig. 2, atop or plan view of the seal or looking device detached; Fig. 3, anelevation of the key by which the binding-wire is turned, the handlebeing broken off; Fig. 4, a View of the key, looking to the right inFig. 3, and Fig. 5 a detail to be referred to.

Referring to Fig. 1, Arepresents a threaded nipple of a water or othermeter. (Not shown.)

The nipple A is provided with a collar a, with which co-operates the nuta, by which the pipe section or union a is united to the nipple, as inthe usual manner. The collar a and nut a form a locking-groove, in whichenters an inwardly-projecting flange Z) on each part or half Z719 of acylindrical collar constituting my improved seal or looking device; Eachhalf I) b of the said seal or looking device is provided at its oppositeends on its outer side with a flange 6 0 respectively,

which form a cup or socket U (see Fig. 2) when the said parts or halvesare put together. Each flange b b has a hole 0, through which ispreferably extended a wire 0, by which the halves bv b are firmlysecured together, the said wire in practice being a straight piece,which is first inserted through the holes in the said flanges so thatits ends project beyond, and then are bent or turned by means of a keyB.

The key B has a central hub 0 which fits the cup or socket Z), and whichis provided with two pins 0 c (herein shown on opposite sides of thelongitudinal center of the key 13,) the said pins acting on oppositesides of the wire to bend the same into substantially the S form shownin Fig. 2, thus preventing the said wire from being pulled through theholes 0, the ends of the Wire projecting beyond the flanges b 19 beingbent in opposite directions, as at d d, by the pins (Z d the positionoccupied by the said pins when the wire has been bent being indicated bydotted lines, Fig. 2. Each half b b has at one side a flange c, whichforms with the flange Z) a chamber in which the nut is locked, theflange c projecting beyond the top of the nut, so as to prevent theinsertion of pinchers and similar tools by which the nut may be turned.The flange b of each part or half Z) 12 is cut away or rabbeted at itsends to form a rabbet-joint, as shown in Fig. 5, when the parts I) b areput together, the said rabbet-j oint preventing one part from bein gslipped by the other, thus obviating breaking of the seal by moving onepart b by the other part D which might arise from careless handling ofthe said parts. The upper flange I) of the part b and the lower flange bof the part b are provided with lips f, which overlap the ends of theflanges eo-operating with them to form the socket or cup If when theparts Z1 Z1 are put together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thus preventingthe parts I) b from being moved laterally independently of each other.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a seal or locking device consisting oftwo parts Z) U having flanges Z) Z)" and Z) c, the flanges I) havingholes 0, of a fastening device or wire adapted to be inserted throughsaid holes to unite the said parts, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a seal or locking device consisting of twoparts 1) 0 having flanges I) b" and b e, the flanges I) if having holes0, of a wire inserted through the said holes, and a key to turn or bendsaid wire, sub stantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A seal 01' locking device for pipc-couplings, consisting of two parts7) 0, provided With flanges b 11 having lips f and forming a cup orsocket b and a flange 7), provided with a rabbet to prevent movement of;the parts I) I2 independent of each other in one direction,substantially described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. l1(1)LLANSl-3EE.

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